Teaching & Outreach

OutreachIn addition to teaching, we conduct outreach activities to foster an interest in science and support diversity in STEM fields. Below are examples of outreach activities in the lab.

East Band of the Cherokee Indians High School ProgramIn 2016, we began working on an outreach program with Dr. Caleb Hickman and the the East Band of the Cherokee Indians (EBCI). Nearly two years later, we are excited to launch the first summer of our program which will provide field-based research and coding experiences for EBCI high school students! You can learn more about the program here.

Other outreach activities in the Sheldon Lab

Will, an undergraduate researcher in the lab, visited a Botany and Zoology class at Carter High School to talk about dung beetles. Here he’s showing students our cool study organisms!

Maggie leading after school science activities at the Knoxville Boys & Girls Club

In May 2017, Maggie (second from R) taught undergraduates how to trap and identify beetles as part of the course Natural History in the Smokies

In 2017, Kimberly organized and hosted a series on Women, Ecology, and Conservation in a Changing World along with Jen Schweitzer (EEB) and Sally Horn (Geography).

Kimberly (far right) participating in the Discussion Panel for the 2017 Annual Women in STEM Symposium hosted by Pipeline at UTK.

Volunteering with Uinta Pika Watch, which brings seventh graders to the field to gather scientific data.